PARIS -- Finally, the Tour de France is giving women a more visible role than just congratulating the male riders. On July 27 cyclings best-known race will host "La Course by Le Tour de France" -- a one-day womens competition staged hours before Tour riders race on the same circuit to finish the three-week event on Paris Champs-Elysees. The International Cycling Union announced the innovation Saturday as part of its 2014 racing calendar. Tour organizers, the Amaury Sport Organization, say they aim to make the womens competition "one of the most decisive races of the season." Until now, the 110-year-old Tour has been almost exclusively a male preserve, with women sometimes employed as team staffers or on the winners podium handing out flowers. A number of womens races have collapsed in recent years and some competitors have criticized poor funding and promotion. A "Tour Feminin" event in France was staged in the past, but not since 2009. "Womens races have had financial difficulties -- little television exposure, little media fallout and, as a result, few sponsors," said UCI sport director Philippe Chevallier in a phone interview. "We are working hard so that will change," he said, acknowledging that "its a long-term job." A group of cyclists, including Olympic gold medallist and road race world champion Marianne Vos of the Netherlands and Olympian Emma Pooley of Britain, launched a petition last summer to push for a professional womens race in parallel to the Tour de France over the same distances. "There was a petition, which I found inappropriate by the way, during the Tour de France," Tour director Christian Prudhomme told The Associated Press by telephone. "After the Tour, in September, October, a delegation of (womens) champions came to see me, led by Marianne Vos," Prudhomme said. "What they asked us was for a bit of spotlight, they insisted upon the fact that womens cycling does not get enough media coverage and only this event -- and only organization ASO -- could help them to get more coverage for their race." Vos said she was "delighted" about the announcement of "La Course" event. "I am particularly happy to take part, especially thinking about the majestic finish on the Champs-Elysees," she was quoted as saying in a statement from Tour organizers. "The birth of this race is a revolutionary development in our sport. The Tour is the pinnacle of professional cycling ... (this) could open up a new era for womens cycling." In contrast, Prudhomme emphasized the challenge of running two races at the same time. "Its complicated. You have to do things step by step from a logistical point of view," and in terms of security, Prudhomme said. "Were totally incapable, logistically and technically, to run two events at the same time, whatever they may be. We dont know how to do it, (so) well have to wait to see what happens." Phil Jones England Jersey . It is unclear how long Kallstrom, who was brought in to alleviate the teams midfield problems, will be sidelined. Arsenals communications director, Mark Gonnella, says the club decided to proceed with Kallstroms signing despite the injury. Dele Alli England Jersey . I kept my eyes focused up on the camera during each approach. I just tried to stay focused on my form, as I didnt know what the ball reaction was. I was quite emotional at the end. I did not actually see any of the shots in the game until I got home and watched the video. http://www.englandsoccerpro.com/Jack-Butland-England-Jersey/ . Geovany Soto had an RBI for the Cubs. Carlos Silva gave up one run on three hits over six innings to pick up the win. Josh Willingham drove in the lone run for the Nationals, who had just four hits. Ruben Loftus-Cheek Jersey . Snedekers best result so far this year is a tie for eighth place at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. He sits 113th in FedEx Cup standings and has dropped to 31st in world rankings — not the results expected from a player ranked fourth in the world only two years ago. Danny Welbeck Jersey .com) - Houston Texans interim head coach Wade Phillips confirmed Monday that starting quarterback Case Keenum sustained a sprained right thumb during Sundays 25-3 loss in Indianapolis.EDMOND, Okla. -- Several years ago, a rare skin disorder left Gene Sauers unsure if he would survive. Now he has a chance to win the U.S. Senior Open. Sauers crept up on the field and shot a 3-under 68 on Saturday to take a three-stroke lead after three rounds at Oak Tree National. He moved to 7 under, passing front-runners Bernhard Langer, Scott Dunlap and Colin Montgomerie along the way. The journey to this opportunity is what makes Sundays final round extra special for the 51-year-old Sauers. He said a reaction to a wrongly prescribed medication caused Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a disorder that burned the skin on his arms and legs from the inside out. While he was in the hospital for seven weeks recovering, he pictured his golf swing. He got out of the hospital in June 2011 and eventually returned to the course. "The good Lord said Im going to give you another chance," Sauers said. "Bogey doesnt matter that much anymore. Thats when I learned to have a great time and tried to hit everything I was capable of doing, and it worked out today." Langer and Dunlap are tied for second at 4 under. Montgomerie is another stroke back in fourth. It looked as if Montgomerie might run away from the field early on in the third round. He opened with birdies on Nos. 1 and 3 to jump out to a four-shot lead over Langer, who by then had moved from third to second. Langer remained steady and Montgomerie bogeyed Nos. 5 and 7. Heading into the back nine, Mongomeries lead was just one shot. Then Sauers got going. He had a 33 on the back nine, including birdies on Nos. 12, 16 and 18, to take control heading into the final round. It was an impressive run for someone who hasnt placed higher than 15th in a Champions Tour event this season. "Ive got some help back home," Sauers said. "Some friends and some teachers have been helping me a little bit. Theyve got me hitting the ball solid now. Building my confidence is mainly what they do. They know I still have it. You know, its just -- go outt there and do it.dddddddddddd Try not to put too much pressure on myself and try to have fun." Montgomerie shot a 74 after leading at the end of the first two days. He was 3 over on the back nine, but is confident he can regain some of his earlier touch. "I will try to do what I did Thursday with a 65," he said. "If I can do it Thursday, I can do it Sunday. If I can hit it in the fairway, I can play to the strength of my game, which is the iron game." Langer, who has three wins this season on the Champions Tour, was solid, but had several potential birdies just miss during his even-par 71. "Sometimes they lip in, sometimes they lip out," he said. "It was frustrating. I played really good golf on the back nine, the last nine holes, had a lot of chances, lot of opportunities and I think I had four lip-outs or something and left one short on 18 and could have easily been three better but could have, should have, would have doesnt count in this game." Langer isnt conceding yet. "I played pretty solid golf for three days in a row and the putter was hot yesterday," he said. "Wasnt so hot today, but, you know, well see what happens tomorrow. Weve still got 18 holes to go. Its a lot of golf left, and anything can happen." Marco Dawson, who shot a 76 on Friday, rebounded with a 69 on Saturday. He left Friday disappointed and saying he was unsure how to play the course. On Saturday, he was 1 over through six, and then got on a torrid stretch that included birdies on Nos. 7, 8, 10, 12, 13 and 15 to move into a tie for the lead at 5 under. Dawson bogeyed Nos. 16, 17 and 18 to fall to 2 under. He is tied for fifth with Jeff Sluman and Vijay Singh. Dawson said he expects it to be tough to get good scores on Sunday because the course will continue to dry out in near 100-degree heat. "Unless somebody just gets really hot with the putter and gets some good bounces, you know, the best score may be 4, 5 under tomorrow," he said. ' ' '